Safety bank check



May 26,V 1931. J. w. sHAw SAFETY BANK CHECK Filed April 6, 1928 xsaugaunuuvng n. una

Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED Ysrxrlis JAMES W. SHAW, OEVCHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SAFETY BANK CHECK Application filed April 6,- 1928. Serial No. 267,895.

This invention relates to guarded bank checks and like printedv matter in which means is provided to preventand detect al teration in the sum for which the check is drawn, and more especially to that type of such printed matter in which an indicia composed to two or more columns of numerals constitute a portion of such guardure means.

And the present improvement has for its 1e object:-

To provide an arrangement adjacent to and along one margin of a blank bank check or the like, of an indicia comprising a plurality of two or more columns of numerals,

increasing in regular consecutive order, with the primary column and the succeeding columns blocked out in a stepped manner, so

t-hat with the application of a manually imposed index mark of either a printed, punched, or combined punched and colored formation, in line with a particular numeral or transverse row or integral multiple of the numerals, an unalterable indication will be made of the amount of money for which the check is issued. Such construction provides a straight and unbroken marginal formation of the bank check adapted to meet a very desirable requirement in bank checks with an avoidance of the objectionable notched and irregular form of an end or other margin of the check usual in the heretofore existing types of safety checks of the present class, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The accompanying drawing is a'face view oi a bank check embodying the preferred form of the invention.

As represented in the drawing the body 1 of the bank check will be of the usual rectangular form, upon which is imposed the various matters and data usual to ordinary bank checks with the arrangement of such matters and data left to the selection and judgment of the printer or compositor.

The blank check body l, will ordinarily have the usual separable. end stub or extension 2, so that when a quantity of the blank checks are assembled in book form, the stubs 2, from which the checks have been detached, will remain in the book cover as a convenient record of the checks issued from time to time.

In this invention a marginal portion of the blank check body l, and preferably the upper marginal portion as shown, will carry an iii-- dicia on table 3 Vof numerals, comprisinga plurality of longitudinally extending columns of numerals, increasing'in regular consecutive order in eachncolnmn, and withV the snmmit portion of Veach column blocked out in a stepped manner leaving a blank field of a strongly contrasting color to the color or tint of the remaining and major portion of the check body 1, with said blocked ont ield forming the outer margin of the indicia 3, and having in turn a straight edge adjacent and complementary to the adjacent and unbroken edge of said check body.

In connect-ion with the above described indicia on table of numerals 3, a material part of the invention involves the provision of a blank space on the check body l, immediately adjacent to the inner edge or margin of the indicia 3, for the manual and selective application of a pointer or index mark 4, the preferred form of which is that of an arrow formed by a series of small perforations an ranged on the outline of such figure as shown. Y

The application of the pointer or index mark 4 in line with a selected transverse row or integral multiple of the indicia 3, will either indicate the exact amount for which the check is issued or a maximum amount over which the check is not to be honored.-

The scope of the invention includes a pointer or index markA 4, of any suitable angular or printed outline., and which is capable ot being manually imposed on or formed in the material of the check body by any ordinary means, such as a small hand press or like perforating or printing appliance.

Having thus fully described my invention y what I claim is:

1. A safety bank check blank having` its face inscribed with a plurality of numbers of varying numbers of digits, said numbers being arranged in progressively increasing denominations With their initial digits in columnar form and succeeding digits in corresponding arrangement, said blank directly behind the last digit of each column being formed with a ield of contrasting color to the lield occupied by said numbers, and an indicator permanently applied to the blank on its face directly in front of the initial digit column to indicate an amount above which the check shall not be negotiable.

2. A safety bank check blank having its face inscribed with a plurality of numbers of varying numbers of digits, said numbers being arranged in progressively increasing denominations with their initial digits in columnar forni and succeeding digits in corresponding arrangement, said blank directly behind the last digit of each number being formed with a field of contrasting color to the field occupied by said numbers but of non-contrasting color to the numbers themselves, and an indicator permanently applied to the blank on its face directly in frontof the initial digit column to indicate an amount above Which the check shall not be negotiable.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

JAMES WV. SHAW. 

